Rowlands Castle fireworks stun crowds of hundreds

Hundreds of firework-lovers packed into the Recreation Ground in Links Lane this evening as a much-loved annual display returned.

Crowds were given a welcome taste of what was to come by a neighbouring fixture in the distance, before an explosion of colour painted the night sky before them.

Grandparents David and May Potter from Clanfield attended the event for the first time, taking along their six-year-old grandson, Theo.

Mrs Potter said: ‘It was a fantastic display, we thoroughly enjoyed it. We’ve never been before but we’ll certainly come again.’

Theo said: ‘I really liked the green fireworks. I definitely want to come back next year.’

The Stuart family ventured to the display from as far as London.

Grandmother, 84-year-old Frances from Hayling Island, said: ‘It was brilliant – absolutely fantastic. I liked the ones that looked like stars especially.’

Her granddaughter, 13-year-old Amelie, travelled to the event from south-east London with parents Rebecca and Jason.

She said: ‘My favourites were the spiralling fireworks that exploded into lots of different colours. There were some rainbow ones too which were great.’

Attending crowds also enjoyed an assortment of activities and refreshments, comprising fairground rides, candy-floss and hot chocolate. One of the display’s greatest reviews came from four-year-old Lucy Harvey, who attended with her parents Claire and Phillip.

Summarising the night, she said: ‘The fireworks were like a million stars flying towards you.’

Comically, her friend Anna Ainsworth, seven, added: ‘My favourites were the ones that swirled up and made sounds like a bee on fire.’

After 15 minutes of excitement, the display drew to a close with a round of applause and a flame-lit message of ‘good night’.